Land Planning and Life Cycle Assessment
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The aims of this course are to:
o introduce the study of land planning and the relative legislation,
o synthesize information on land use/landscape planning of the rural territory,
o develop methodological and technical skills in land use/landscape planning,
o develop problem solving, presentation and group working skills useful to face, in multidisciplinary teams, the problems related to land use/landscape planning,
o introduce the quantitative aspects of Sustainable Development,
o know the standards about the environmental aspects (ISO 14000 series),
o know the methodology of environmental impact assessment based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA),
o provide application tools for the LCA approach.
o introduce the study of land planning and the relative legislation,
o synthesize information on land use/landscape planning of the rural territory,
o develop methodological and technical skills in land use/landscape planning,
o develop problem solving, presentation and group working skills useful to face, in multidisciplinary teams, the problems related to land use/landscape planning,
o introduce the quantitative aspects of Sustainable Development,
o know the standards about the environmental aspects (ISO 14000 series),
o know the methodology of environmental impact assessment based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA),
o provide application tools for the LCA approach.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding. At the end of this course, students should be able to:
o explain the process of land use/landscape planning,
o describe the international regulatory context and the relevant Italian legislation on land planning,
o describe the role of environmental impact assessment methods,
o explain the methodology of Life Cycle Assessment and evaluate it critically against other environmental impact assessment methods
Applying knowledge and understanding. At the end of this course, students should be able to:
o identify the informational needs for land use/landscape planning,
o apply methodologies, procedures and techniques for land assessment and planning,
o frame the environmental analysis in the standardization context,
o set up an environmental impact assessment based on the LCA analysis according to the regulatory indications,
o calculate the environmental impacts with the LCA approach.
o explain the process of land use/landscape planning,
o describe the international regulatory context and the relevant Italian legislation on land planning,
o describe the role of environmental impact assessment methods,
o explain the methodology of Life Cycle Assessment and evaluate it critically against other environmental impact assessment methods
Applying knowledge and understanding. At the end of this course, students should be able to:
o identify the informational needs for land use/landscape planning,
o apply methodologies, procedures and techniques for land assessment and planning,
o frame the environmental analysis in the standardization context,
o set up an environmental impact assessment based on the LCA analysis according to the regulatory indications,
o calculate the environmental impacts with the LCA approach.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
During the course, the following topics will be presented:
- introduction to land planning and overview of the international context and the Italian legislation (0.5 CFU),
- analysis and assessment of the rural territory for land use/landscape planning (0.5 CFU),
- methods and techniques in land-use/landscape planning (1.0 CFU),
- emerging topics related to land-use/landscape planning, such as land take and soil sealing, green infrastructures and Nature Based Solutions, green streets and soft mobility (0.75 CFU),
- seminars of external experts (0.25 CFU), eventually on-line.
- introduction to the quantitative aspects of Sustainable Development (0.5 CFU),
- presentation of the standards about the environmental aspects (ISO 14000 series) (1.0 CFU),
- methodologies of environmental impact assessment based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) (1.0 CFU),
- Hands-on training sessions focused on the use of SimaPro software for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). (0.5 CFU).
Contents of the program are the same also for non-attending students.
- introduction to land planning and overview of the international context and the Italian legislation (0.5 CFU),
- analysis and assessment of the rural territory for land use/landscape planning (0.5 CFU),
- methods and techniques in land-use/landscape planning (1.0 CFU),
- emerging topics related to land-use/landscape planning, such as land take and soil sealing, green infrastructures and Nature Based Solutions, green streets and soft mobility (0.75 CFU),
- seminars of external experts (0.25 CFU), eventually on-line.
- introduction to the quantitative aspects of Sustainable Development (0.5 CFU),
- presentation of the standards about the environmental aspects (ISO 14000 series) (1.0 CFU),
- methodologies of environmental impact assessment based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) (1.0 CFU),
- Hands-on training sessions focused on the use of SimaPro software for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). (0.5 CFU).
Contents of the program are the same also for non-attending students.
Prerequisites for admission
Not specific requirement.
Teaching methods
Teaching activities include 24 + 20 (3 + 2.5 CFU) hours of lectures and 8 hours of practical exercises (0.5 ECTS). During the practical sessions, students will use their own laptop computers. Attendance is not mandatory.
The course combines lectures, interactive learning activities, case studies, and practical exercises. The teaching approach is designed to guide students from the acquisition of fundamental knowledge to the development of professional competencies through the analysis of real-world situations, the discussion of operational challenges, and the application of occupational health and safety principles within agricultural and agri-food contexts. Emphasis is placed on active learning and experiential approaches, enabling students to transform theoretical knowledge into practical skills and professional awareness.
The course combines lectures, interactive learning activities, case studies, and practical exercises. The teaching approach is designed to guide students from the acquisition of fundamental knowledge to the development of professional competencies through the analysis of real-world situations, the discussion of operational challenges, and the application of occupational health and safety principles within agricultural and agri-food contexts. Emphasis is placed on active learning and experiential approaches, enabling students to transform theoretical knowledge into practical skills and professional awareness.
Teaching Resources
The teaching material will be made available on the official MS Teams classroom and will be composed of:
- slides of the lessons,
- technical-scientific insights indicated during the course, and relevant international reference literature,
- reference legislation.
- slides of the lessons,
- technical-scientific insights indicated during the course, and relevant international reference literature,
- reference legislation.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Student assessment is designed to evaluate the learning outcomes achieved in both Land Planning and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) topics.
Regarding the Land Planning topics, the evaluation of the students will be based on an individual project in which the students will have to demonstrate, through a concrete case, the acquired competences in terms of methods, procedures and techniques learned during the course. The oral exam will include the discussion of the student's "individual project".
Rgarding the LCA topics, student assessment will be based on a written examination consisting of 5 open-ended questions covering the topics addressed during the course, in 1 hour. Students may also complete an optional group project using SimaPro software. Each group will be assigned a case study involving an agricultural product or production system for which an environmental impact assessment based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology must be carried out. The project will be presented and discussed with the professor and may contribute up to 3 additional points to the final grade.
The evaluation will be the same also for non-attending students.
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability)
Regarding the Land Planning topics, the evaluation of the students will be based on an individual project in which the students will have to demonstrate, through a concrete case, the acquired competences in terms of methods, procedures and techniques learned during the course. The oral exam will include the discussion of the student's "individual project".
Rgarding the LCA topics, student assessment will be based on a written examination consisting of 5 open-ended questions covering the topics addressed during the course, in 1 hour. Students may also complete an optional group project using SimaPro software. Each group will be assigned a case study involving an agricultural product or production system for which an environmental impact assessment based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology must be carried out. The project will be presented and discussed with the professor and may contribute up to 3 additional points to the final grade.
The evaluation will be the same also for non-attending students.
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability)
AGRI-04/C - Rural Buildings and Agro-Forest Land Planning - University credits: 6
Exercises: 8 hours
Lessons: 44 hours
Lessons: 44 hours
Shifts:
Professor(s)
Reception:
by appointment
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - building 21100
Reception:
By appointment (by email o Teams)
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Via Celoria 2, Milano (Ingegneria Agraria, Building 10)